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When to Visit Dhaka

Climate guide & best times to travel

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Monthly Climate Data for Dhaka Average temperature and rainfall by month Climate Overview 8°C 15°C 23°C 30°C 38°C Rainfall (mm) 0 195 391 Jan Jan: 24.0°C high, 13.0°C low, 8mm rain Feb Feb: 28.0°C high, 16.0°C low, 20mm rain Mar Mar: 32.0°C high, 21.0°C low, 48mm rain Apr Apr: 33.0°C high, 24.0°C low, 127mm rain May May: 33.0°C high, 24.0°C low, 272mm rain Jun Jun: 32.0°C high, 26.0°C low, 318mm rain Jul Jul: 32.0°C high, 26.0°C low, 391mm rain Aug Aug: 32.0°C high, 26.0°C low, 315mm rain Sep Sep: 32.0°C high, 26.0°C low, 284mm rain Oct Oct: 31.0°C high, 24.0°C low, 175mm rain Nov Nov: 29.0°C high, 19.0°C low, 20mm rain Dec Dec: 26.0°C high, 15.0°C low, 10mm rain Temperature Rainfall
Dhaka sits in the Bengal delta, where two great rivers and the Bay of Bengal shape a climate that swings between two poles: a dry season cool enough to be pleasant, and a monsoon so complete it redefines rain. There is little gradation. March, April, October, November flash past. Time your visit well and Dhaka feels livable. Arrive in July and the city drowns you. The year splits into three phases. November through February locals call winter. Winter here means 24-29°C days and 13°C nights in January. Pack a light jacket for dawn. Rainfall is almost zero. The air carries rare clarity for a megacity. March starts the climb toward pre-monsoon heat, punishing 33°C by April. The air thickens before a drop has fallen. May unleashes the monsoon. July locks into rhythm: 400 mm in one month, 30°C day and night, humidity that doubles every degree. What sets Dhaka apart from Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City is the abrupt swing. The cool dry months surprise newcomers expecting year-round tropical heat. The monsoon, conversely, is among South Asia's most dramatic, flooding low neighborhoods and freezing traffic for hours. Humidity stays around 70% on paper. In practice the feel changes completely once rain starts.

Best Time to Visit

Recommended timing for different travel styles.

Cultural
For cultural exploration, November through February is the sweet spot. Dry air and mild temperatures let you walk Old Dhaka all day. Major festivals often land in this window. Architecture, markets, street life, all easier now. December and January are best.
Budget
Budget travelers like March and late October. Accommodation and transport loosen after peak demand. March works before full heat hits. Afternoons already sting. October rides the monsoon's tail. Rains thin but linger. The city feels rinsed and bright.
Adventure
For adventure and day trips, river cruises, Sundarbans or Sylhet hills, dry months give clearest skies and simplest logistics. December through February keeps road surprises to a minimum.
Beach
Dhaka is not a beach town. Use it as a base for Cox's Bazar or southern islands. November and February frame the window when the Bay of Bengal behaves.

What to Pack

Essentials and seasonal recommendations for Dhaka.

Year-Round Essentials
Loose, lightweight cotton clothing in natural fabrics
Handles both the dry-season warmth and the monsoon humidity better than synthetics, which trap heat and take forever to dry. Choose linen or bamboo. Skip polyester.
Stomach remedies and oral rehydration salts
Worth having regardless of when you visit, as the food scene in Dhaka is excellent but street food carries the usual risks of any major South Asian city. Pack Imodium.
A good quality scarf or shawl
Doubles as sun protection, a head covering when entering religious sites, and a light layer in the unexpectedly chilly air-conditioned interiors that are common in upmarket hotels and malls. One scarf, three uses.
Insect repellent
Useful throughout the year but becomes more pressing from May through October when standing water creates breeding conditions across the city. Reapply often.
A small padlock for guesthouse lockers and a rain cover for a daypack
more practical than most guides suggest.
Cool dry months (November through February)
Clothing
One or two warm layers for evenings and early mornings; a lightweight down jacket or a fleece that you would not normally associate with a tropical destination is worth the bag space in January. Nights surprise you.
Footwear
Closed shoes are a good call for mornings.
Hot pre-monsoon months (March and April)
Clothing
breathable fabrics
Accessories
a wide-brimmed hat, sun protection that you will apply repeatedly through the day.
Monsoon months (May through October)
Footwear
Waterproof sandals that can get wet and dry quickly outperform most other footwear options. Standard leather sandals get destroyed and sneakers stay wet for days. Trust Tevas.
Accessories
A compact umbrella handles the frequent stops and starts of monsoon rain better than a full-length rain jacket, which quickly becomes its own heat problem at 32°C (91°F). Small wins.
Plug Type
Type C (standard two-round-pin European configuration), though Type D and Type G outlets also appear in older buildings and upscale hotels respectively. Bring a multi-plug.
Voltage
220 volts at 50Hz
Adapter Note
If your devices charge at 110V only, a converter is necessary. Most modern laptops, phone chargers, and cameras handle 100-240V automatically, which is worth confirming on the adapter block before you leave home. Check the label.
Skip These Items
Bulky hardshell luggage becomes a liability in the narrow lanes of Old Dhaka and in the city's traffic-heavy streets where porters and rickshaws are the practical reality; a soft-sided bag is far more maneuverable. Pack light. Heavy denim is miserable in the heat and takes an eternity to dry in monsoon humidity. Leave it home. Formal Western business attire is largely unnecessary unless you have specific corporate meetings; smart-casual local alternatives are widely available and more practical. Collared shirts suffice. Very revealing clothing creates friction in a conservative city without offering any practical benefit. Cover shoulders. A full first-aid kit larger than a basic travel kit is deadweight when pharmacies are densely distributed throughout Dhaka's neighborhoods and well-stocked by any regional comparison. Buy there.
Full Packing Checklist

Interactive checklist with shopping links for every item you need.

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Month-by-Month Guide

Climate conditions and crowd levels for each month of the year.

January

January brings the coolest weather of the year: 24°C highs, 13°C nights. Rainfall is only 8 mm. Crowds peak. Low rainfall, High crowds.

High 24°C (76°F)
Low 13°C (55°F)
Rainfall 8mm
Crowds High
View Details →
February

February warms to 28°C highs, 16°C lows. Light 20 mm showers appear. Air stays dry. Streets buzz without monsoon chaos. Low rainfall, High crowds.

High 28°C (82°F)
Low 16°C (61°F)
Rainfall 20mm
Crowds High
View Details →
March

March ushers in the hot season. Daytime 32°C, nights 21°C. Rain jumps to 48 mm in fierce afternoon bursts. Humidity thickens. Medium rainfall, Medium crowds.

High 32°C (90°F)
Low 21°C (69°F)
Rainfall 48mm
Crowds Medium
View Details →
April

April is the rawest heat. 33°C days, 24°C nights. Rain leaps to 127 mm. Pre-monsoon storms are spectacular yet disruptive. Medium-High rainfall, Low crowds.

High 33°C (93°F)
Low 24°C (75°F)
Rainfall 127mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
May

May is the monsoon's opening gambit. 33°C days, 24°C nights. 272 mm falls. By month's end you will not dodge a dry day. High rainfall, Low crowds.

High 33°C (92°F)
Low 24°C (76°F)
Rainfall 272mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
June

June locks into monsoon rhythm. 32°C days, 26°C sticky nights. 318 mm soaks the city. Drainage strains. Visit only with iron purpose. High rainfall, Low crowds.

High 32°C (91°F)
Low 26°C (79°F)
Rainfall 318mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
July

July is the wettest month. 391 mm crashes down. Temperatures hover at 32°C day and night. Flooding is common. Choose hotels and routes with care. Very High rainfall, Low crowds.

High 32°C (89°F)
Low 26°C (79°F)
Rainfall 391mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
August

August stays deep in monsoon. 315 mm falls. 32°C days, 26°C nights. Rain is relentless, no longer dramatic. High rainfall, Low crowds.

High 32°C (90°F)
Low 26°C (79°F)
Rainfall 315mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
September

September brings the first tentative signs of the monsoon beginning to ease. Highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 26°C (78°F) hold steady, but 284mm of rain still falls, and the city retains that saturated quality it has carried since June. High rainfall, Low crowds. Pack smart. Expect puddles. Bring quick-dry shirts.

High 32°C (90°F)
Low 26°C (78°F)
Rainfall 284mm
Crowds Low
View Details →
October

October is a genuine transition month and one of the more interesting times to visit Dhaka if you can handle some uncertainty. Highs drop to 31°C (89°F) and lows to 24°C (75°F), and rainfall falls sharply to 175mm as the monsoon retreats. By the second half of October the air begins to feel lighter. Medium rainfall, Medium crowds. Good for photographers.

High 31°C (89°F)
Low 24°C (75°F)
Rainfall 175mm
Crowds Medium
View Details →
November

November is when the city exhales. Highs reach 29°C (85°F) and nights cool to 19°C (67°F), with only 20mm of rain across the month. This is the beginning of Dhaka's most pleasant season and the city tends to fill up again with visitors. Low rainfall, High crowds. Book early.

High 29°C (85°F)
Low 19°C (67°F)
Rainfall 20mm
Crowds High
View Details →
December

December completes the turn toward the dry season, with highs of 26°C (78°F) and the coolest nights of the year at 15°C (59°F). Rainfall is minimal at 10mm and the air has a crispness that feels unusual for a delta city of this latitude. Very Low rainfall, High crowds. Bring a light sweater.

High 26°C (78°F)
Low 15°C (59°F)
Rainfall 10mm
Crowds High
View Details →

Ready to plan your trip to Dhaka?

Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.

Top Things to Do

Curated attractions, tours, and experiences in Dhaka.

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Where to Stay

Best neighbourhoods and hotels for every budget.

Find hotels →

What to Pack

Climate-specific gear and essentials for Dhaka.

See packing list →

Continue Planning Your Trip

Packing List

What to bring on your trip for Dhaka

When to Visit

Best times to travel for Dhaka

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Dhaka